Summary

Introduction: Lack of study or work opportunities increases the vulnerability of young people, who in the face of instability can start using tobacco or other addictive substances.

Objective: Analyze what tobacco use is like among groups of adolescents and young people who only study, only work, study and work, or do not study or work.

Method: A national sample of 6,72 young people aged 12 to 25 was taken with data from the 2011 National Addiction Survey, with a random, probabilistic and polyetopic design. Consumption was measured once, in the last year and last month, as well as daily tobacco use and the consumption of more than 100 cigars.

Results: Men ages 12 to 17 who do not study and do not work have higher tobacco use than those who only study. In both men and women aged 12 to 25, those who work have a higher tobacco use than young people who only study.

Discussion and conclusions: The risk of substance use is not only among young people who do not study and do not work, but also in those who, while of study age, are working, so it is important to strengthen and update the tobacco prevention programmes that have allowed to contain, and in some cases decrease, the levels of consumption of the population.